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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2019)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019 | 5A Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales Art Walk season begins By Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe” A ‘Bonnie’ Life Ruth and Brian’s spontaneous adoption of Bonnie was a surprise to them all, especially for Babee the cat. R DAMIEN SHERWOOD/COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL Musicians at last Friday’s Art Walk kicked off the season with some downtown streetside ambi- ence as passers-by weaved in and out of shops and examined local artist’ work. Several Main Street businesses provided finger food and beverages while putting their wares on display. LORANE NEWS Contributed by Lil Thompson for The Sentinel • There was a small turn- out at the “meet and greet” for school board candidate Crystal Nevins on Friday, but the meeting was informative and interesting for those who attended. Current school board member Troy Jentzsch was also in attendance. Ev- eryone visited and shared information over snacks. Re- member to vote. • There is a meeting for senior parents to help plan the senior graduation cere- mony decorations tonight, Pet Cremation Dignifi ed Options for Our Faithful Friends At Smith Lund Mills we believe that pets are an important member of any family. When a pet dies it can be very diffi cult time for everybody involved. We understand the feelings of losing a pet and our professional, caring staff will be ready to assist you during this time of loss. (541) 942-0185 123 S. 7th St., Cottage Grove Visit smithlundmills.com for more information. 6-day weather forecast THURSDAY FRIDAY 65° | 41° 71° | 44° Sunny Sunny SATURDAY SUNDAY 73° | 46° 75° | 44° Sunny Sunny MONDAY TUESDAY 70° | 43° Sunny 72° | 45° Partly Sunny When you need insurance, you need people too. Call today (541) 942-0555. PayneWest.com/Cottage-Grove Wednesday, May 1, begin- ning at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library. • Lorane Grange meets tomorrow, May 2, at 7 p.m. The men will serve the wom- en in honor of Mother’s Day. Plans for the fair booth and cemetery clean-up are on the agenda. • The Homerun Reading Challenge has begun with the help of “Sluggo” and the Eugene Emeralds. Goals have been set by each class, and each student who is com- peting in the challenge will receive free Emerald Baseball tickets. • The Lorane Church la- dies will be selling goodies and gifts for Mother’s Day at the Lorane Family Store. Come out on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and purchase dome amazing items. • All parents with children turning age 5 prior to Sept. 1 should plan to attend the Kindergarten Roundup set for Tuesday, May 7, begin- ning at 3:15 p.m. at Applegate Elementary School. Meet the teacher, see the classroom and interact with other in- coming students. For more information, call 541-935- 2100. • The end of the school year is fast approaching. Here are some dates for par- ents’ calendars: —Wednesday, May 29: Senior Recognition at Crow High School at 7 p.m. —Sunday, June 2: Bacca- laureate at 6 p.m. at the Crow Nazarene Church —Friday, June 7: Gradu- ation night begins 7 p.m. in the Crow High School gym —Tuesday, June 18: Eighth-Grade Recognition Night at 7 p.m. CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE TREE LIMB PICK-UP MAY 6, 2019 & MAY 20, 2019 The City of Cottage Grove Public Works Department will be conducting the annual Tree Limb Pick-Up the weeks of May 6, 2019 and May 20, 2019. Property owners will be responsible for removing any branches or limbs placed in the street after May 20, 2019. All limbs must be put out BEFORE May 6, 2019 for the first pick-up and BEFORE May 20, 2019 for the second pick-up. Residents can NOT place branches in the street where curbside parking does not exist or in bike lanes. This is strictly a tree limb pick up, nothing other than loose tree limbs or branches will be picked up. If you have questions regarding the Tree Limb Pick-Up Program, please call the Public Works Department, at (541) 942-2024 or see our Limb Pick-Up Brochure, located at City Hall, at 400 East Main Street, or on our website, at https://www.cottagegrove.org/publicworks/ page/tree-branch-pickup-program-0 for additional information. uth’s first language is American Sign Language (ASL) because her parents are deaf. So, of course, when the family adopted a deaf kitten they named it “Snowy,” reflecting on her white fur and taught it kitty ASL. When they called Snowy, they used the ASL sign for “snow.” They’d hold one hand up like a “this is a stick- up” and then wiggle their fingertips downwards. When Snowy saw her name sign, she would run to them. When Ruth grew up, she began working for a deaf and hard-of- hearing organization. In late autumn two years ago, her fiercely-independent 89-year-old grandmother’s health and mind deteriorated so fast that she forgot she had Bonnie, an eight-year-old dog. The grandmother was placed in a hospital and the family was oddly not alerted. Nine days later, Ruth ar- rived at her grandmother’s home to find it in total disar- ray. The starving dog was using the home as a litter box and the heat was off. Ruth gathered up Bonnie and her belongings and took her home. She and her husband rented a one-pet home with Ruth’s 19-year-old cat, Babee. Desperate, Ruth phoned her landlord who thankfully said she could keep Bonnie — but now she had to tell Babee. “When Bonnie walked in, she sniffed Babee once and then walked away,” recalled Ruth. “Since that brief intro- duction there has never being a hiss or a bark. She is the sweetest dog I’ve ever had. I take her to work and every- one loves her sweet, gentle soul.” Bonnie had always been with Ruth’s grandmother and was not accustomed to being left alone. Ruth’s co-work- ers bring dogs to work, so Bonnie tagged along too. To keep the furry social butterfly in her office there is a gate at the door. It wasn’t just the staff, who fell in love Bon- nie. Clients in the waiting room respond to gentle-souled Bonnie by putting out their hands to pet and love on her. They often ask, “Is your dog deaf?” or “Are you bringing her in for a hearing test?” and “Is she your guide dog?” “Having a dog at work relaxes the staff and our clients,” said Ruth. “Dogs put smiles on faces.” It may not be the norm to have pets at work, but Ruth hopes that changes because it is so paws-itive. Bonnie fits toddler size 5-6 t-shirts. So, on Halloween, she wore one with monsters on the back. The following Halloween she was Yoda because she is such a chill dog. Her Christmas shirt read: “Naughty? Nice? I tried!” Ruth confesses to actually being a cat purr-son before Bonnie’s sudden arrival. “We are so blessed with her,” said Ruth. “People and pets can learn ASL. It can be helpful at any stage of our lives. Bonnie knows the signs for ‘walk’ and ‘want to go potty outside?’ Of course, she gets more excited for the “walk” sign. The day that Ruth suddenly adopted Bonnie, her hus- band was out of town. “I sent him a photo of her in our house. Brian did not bark or hiss at all,” said Ruth. “In- stead. he typed back, ‘What’s my dog’s name?’” TIPS: “Have things in place for your pets no matter your age,” advises Ruth. “Pets are our loved ones, more so in our later years when they are all we have and we are alone. No one can predict how fast our health can change. We had no medical history for Bonnie. If you have pets talk to your family, just like you do when you have children that may suddenly need ‘new parents.’ Bonnie did not need to suffer for a whole week; no walks, water or food. I would have been there in a heartbeat if I had known. Teach hearing and deaf dogs sign language! Signing works wonders when a dog is out of voice range. ASL instructions are on the internet.” www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VLXxmrbrvxs Share your fur-avorite pet memory or adventure at angelscribe@msn.com. Visit Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Facebook at/www.facebook.com/PetTipsandTales Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program. 541-942-2789
